Younis assures Warwicks of commitment

Younis Khan has told Warwickshire that he remains committed to his two-year contract with the county despite his recall to Pakistan’s one-day international squad.

The former Pakistan captain signed as Warwickshire’s new overseas player barely two weeks ago and indicated that he would put county ahead of country.

But that agreement appeared in doubt when Younis patched up his differences with the Pakistan Cricket Board on Wednesday and was then named in their squad for the forthcoming one-day international series against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates.

Younis’s selection raised concerns from Warwickshire that his availability might be limited but Ashley Giles, the county’s director of cricket, has been reassured by a conversation he had with the player’s agent.

“I have spoken to Younis’s agent who has spoken to him,” Giles said. “Younis says that he remains fully committed to the Bears.”

But further negotiations are likely to take place when Giles returns from holiday next month, particulalry if Younis is also included in Pakistan’s squad for the Test series against South Africa.

Giles prefers to sign overseas players who are available to play county cricket for a full season rather than using a series of locums.

It is not the first time that Warwickshire have encountered problems with overseas players in recent seasons though they did find some stability this year with leg-spinner Imran Tahir.

The South Africa-based former Pakistan A international took 56 County Championship wickets but had already agreed to rejoin Hampshire for 2011 before he signed for Warwickshire.

Younis was banned indefinitely by the PCB in March for alleged indiscipline during last winter’s ill-starred tour of Australia. The ban was later overturned on appeal but Younis had remained in the international wilderness until he met Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, on Wednesday.